‘Just a few days since the warning… It can’t be back to square one again.’

After Yujin left, the young and beautiful woman who seemed to have taken over as the new lady of the house started to indulge in all kinds of luxuries.

No matter how kindly the stewards advised her, it was in vain. Her words seemed to slip through Natasha’s ears every time.

Gordon felt his hair growing whiter with the strange tug-of-war with Natasha.

‘His Excellency’s eyes must have clouded.’

A sigh escaped from beneath his thick mustache. As always, his bad premonition turned out to be true. Upon reaching the second floor, he saw exactly what he had anticipated.

Servants carrying high-valued treasures and a blonde silhouette instructing them near the treasury.

Gordon approached her with an undisguised look of tired anger.

“Lady Natasha.”

She was about to carelessly reach for the family heirlooms when she was startled by his call from behind.

“Ah, good morning, Mr. Steward.”

“What are you doing?”

Natasha greeted him with a bright smile, but his response was as firm as a rock.

“You can see for yourself… I’m moving things to decorate my room.”

“Is this what His Grace entrusted you with the keys to the eastern mansion for-”

“How can you be so certain it’s not? Just because you have served the Duke for a long time, do you think you know everything about him, even his inner thoughts? How presumptuous of you, Mr. Altair.”
Natasha’s lips stretched into a long smile, provoking Steward Gordon to openly frown.

Her voice was undeniably sweet, yet each layer felt uncomfortably peeled away, like the layers of a multi-tiered pastry.

Gordon, adjusting his monocle, rebuked sharply, “This is the Evergail mansion, and everything here belongs to His Grace and Lady Helena, the Duchess. You are only entrusted with temporary management, not ownership.”

“Oh, Steward,” Natasha sighed, her eyebrows drooping in feigned disappointment. “If you value your tongue, keep it in your mouth. Who will remain in this mansion in the end, you or I? When the day comes that you call me Lady Evergail, it will be too late, Steward.”

“You’re truly presumptuous. As you said, I have served His Grace for ten years. Don’t be mistaken that a moment of passion allows one to wield everything.”

“The length of service doesn’t necessarily equate to loyalty.”

Gordon’s brow furrowed deeply.

“Lady Natasha! If you cross the line any further, I won’t stand idly by!”

His voice grew louder, startling a passing maid.

But Natasha remained unfazed, her painted smile only deepening.

She took something from a box the maid was holding and gestured for her to move on.

Gordon, about to speak, stopped as Natasha unfurled a rolled parchment.

“Have you ever experienced the sea?”

It was a sky map on a navy blue background, delicately embroidered with golden threads. Natasha’s green eyes meandered over it.

“I’ve sailed a few times from my homeland to Instania. On days when the compass was useless, the navigator would guide the ship by looking at the twinkling stars.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“It’s fascinating. Scholars say stars are remnants of ancient explosions, but we use them to find our way. Traces of the past becoming paths for the future, it’s astonishing.”

Natasha re-rolled the parchment and faced Gordon’s deepening gaze.

“You’ve known Evergail’s past well enough. Are you really standing by your principles, or is it mere obstinacy? To read the future, you might have to let go of your pride, Steward.”

“Even if you read the future by stars, it’s ultimately the captain and crew who steer the ship. Don’t assume everyone in this mansion will move at your whim.”

“Thank you for the advice. Since you’re blocking my way, I’m clearly not under such delusions.”

An unyielding air flowed between them.

In the suffocating atmosphere, Natasha prodded further.

“And Steward. It seems you’ve never experienced a fiery love in life. Allow me to give you some advice…”

She leaned in close, feigning dusting his shoulder, and whispered.

“Sometimes, that fervor engulfs everything. It becomes life itself. So watch and see, Gordon. Who will remain by his side until the end.”

The eyes that met his were no longer those of an innocent girl.

Deep, dark, and sticky… resembling a swamp more than a lush greenery.
Gordon swallowed a dry lump in his throat.

“I may take, but I do not know how to be taken from.”